Preserve the Culture, the Souls, and the Human Dignity of the People of Kessab
Ms. Irina Bokova
Director General
United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
--
Mr. Baudelaire Ndong Ella
President
United Nations Human Rights Council(UNHRC)
--
Ms. Navi Pillay
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights(OHCHR)
--
Mr. António Guterres
UN High Commissioner for Refugees
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
--
Mr. Peter Maurer
President
International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)
--
Mr. Philippe Boillat
Director General
Council of Europe’s Directorate General of Human Rights and Rule of Law
Dear Madams/Sirs,
Kessabis an Armenian-populated town in northwestern Syria, administratively part of the Latakia Governorate, located 59 kilometers north of Latakia. It is situated near the border with Turkey on the slope of Mount Aqraa, 800 meters above sea level. Along with the surrounding villages, the sub-district of Kessab has a total population of around 2,500.
Historically, the region of Kessab was part of the ancient civilization that spread from the Syrian coasts up to the Orontes River, six millennia ago. The Mount Casius at those times, was believed to have been the sanctuary of Zeus. During the reign of the ruler of the short-lived Armenian Empire Tigranes The Great, in the 1st century BC, and later the Roman era, the Syrian coast flourished greatly and had a positive effect on the development of the Kessab region.
The first record of the name of Kessab was mentioned in a historical document dating back to the Crusaders period.
Being located on the borders of the Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia, later in history, the region of Kessab was gradually developed by its Armenian migrants. The migration of the Armenians to the region increased in the 14th and the 15th centuries.
In modern history, the first disaster in Kessab took place in April 1909, during the Adana massacre. This calamity cost the Armenians 161 deaths and a massive material loss.
The Armenian Genocide in 1915 proved even more destructive. The command of the genocide initiation arrived in Kessab on the 26th of July to start deportations within 5 days.In 1922, peace was established after the entrance of French troops into Kessab and some of its inhabitants returned back home.
On the 5th July 1938, the Turkish army entered theSanjak of Alexandretta and Antioch, and the region was renamed Hatay Province. Many Armenians left Kessab for Lebanon or took refuge in the mountains.
The result of the annexation of the Sanjak of Alexandretta proved disastrous for the Armenians of Kessab: Mount Casius was attached to the Turkish side including their farms, properties, laurel tree forests and the grazing lands located in the mountain's bosoms and valleys that once used to belong to the native Armenians. Besides, with this annexation, the Armenians of the town were also deprived from their traditional and historical Barlum Monastery, where the inhabitants used to celebrate the feast of Virgin Mary during August of each year.
As a result of the ongoing Syrian War, in the early hours of 21 March 2014, Kessab and its surrounding villages saw a multi-pronged attack by rebel forces opposed to the Syrian government. It was reported that some of the attackers, advanced directly from Turkish territory.
Some 670 Armenian families of Kessab and its surrounding villages either fled or were evacuated by the local Armenian community leadership to safer areas in neighboring Basit and Latakia.
The peaceful population of a whole village left their homes, their schools and centuries old churches and cultural heritage behind to seek refuge and safety elsewhere with no guarantees of going back to their lands.
Today’s deportation of Kessab Armenians — the third in less than a century — is a most serious challenge to the international community.
Accordingly, we the undersigned appeal to your high esteems with a call to guarantee the preservation of the Cultural Heritage, the Souls, and the Human Dignity of the People of Kessab who had peacefully lived on their lands and flourished culture since centuries. Our call to you is to help them to safely return back to their homeland.
Updates
April 22, 2014
I am currently compiling our collected signatures to send directly to the offices of the UN officials listed here. Please call your local representatives today and demand they push for protection in Kessab. Your continued pressure is the only way to force these leaders to pay attention to our request.
April 21, 2014
We are approaching 500 signatures and need to hit this milestone before we contact these officials. Post the link to your Facebook page right now. Text three people in your contacts and demand they add their names today.
Reached 100 supporters
April 7, 2014
April 4, 2014
We need to hit one hundred signatures right now to gain the attention of the UNESCO office. Post this link on your Facebook wall and text the petition to three people who care about Kessab.
184 Comments
My origin is from KESSAB; it's my Homeland that is attacked, robbed, destroyed and abused by turks. Because, these barbarians would never been able to enter Kessab without the direct assistance of turkish army.
Preserve this peaceful Armenian community which represents the descendants of the generation that survived the Armenian Genocide perpetrated by the ''Young Turks''.We do not wish to see a repetition of that great crime against humanity by terrorists who have the tacit support of the present government in Turkey.
My father was born in Kessab, which makes me a Kessabtsi, too. I had the joy of visiting it once. I finally felt connected to my familial roots. Having a sense of place and time is an important part of experiencing your cultural heritage. Please sign this petition for the sake of the displaced Kessabtsis.
The truth must be said. The Turkish government is responsible by encouraging Jdihadists' entry in Kessab. Turkey's armed forces provided logistic support. Stop Turkey's aggression on Armenians.
The attack on Kessab was a deliberate act by Turkey to prevent the complete defeat of the Islamic extremists in Syria and in the meantime to inflict a blow to Armenians on the eve of the 100th anniversary of the Genocide
man's inhumanity to man! Why can't the USA & the UN do something about this?
Protecting Kessab means doing your job United Nations Human Rights Council. Show the humanity once at least the purpose of your existence
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Preserve the Culture, the Souls, and the Human Dignity of the People of Kessab
Ms. Irina Bokova
Director General
United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
--
Mr. Baudelaire Ndong Ella
President
United Nations Human Rights Council(UNHRC)
--
Ms. Navi Pillay
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights(OHCHR)
--
Mr. António Guterres
UN High Commissioner for Refugees
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
--
Mr. Peter Maurer
President
International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)
--
Mr. Philippe Boillat
Director General
Council of Europe’s Directorate General of Human Rights and Rule of Law
Dear Madams/Sirs,
Kessabis an Armenian-populated town in northwestern Syria, administratively part of the Latakia Governorate, located 59 kilometers north of Latakia. It is situated near the border with Turkey on the slope of Mount Aqraa, 800 meters above sea level. Along with the surrounding villages, the sub-district of Kessab has a total population of around 2,500.
Historically, the region of Kessab was part of the ancient civilization that spread from the Syrian coasts up to the Orontes River, six millennia ago. The Mount Casius at those times, was believed to have been the sanctuary of Zeus. During the reign of the ruler of the short-lived Armenian Empire Tigranes The Great, in the 1st century BC, and later the Roman era, the Syrian coast flourished greatly and had a positive effect on the development of the Kessab region.
The first record of the name of Kessab was mentioned in a historical document dating back to the Crusaders period.
Being located on the borders of the Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia, later in history, the region of Kessab was gradually developed by its Armenian migrants. The migration of the Armenians to the region increased in the 14th and the 15th centuries.
In modern history, the first disaster in Kessab took place in April 1909, during the Adana massacre. This calamity cost the Armenians 161 deaths and a massive material loss.
The Armenian Genocide in 1915 proved even more destructive. The command of the genocide initiation arrived in Kessab on the 26th of July to start deportations within 5 days.In 1922, peace was established after the entrance of French troops into Kessab and some of its inhabitants returned back home.
On the 5th July 1938, the Turkish army entered theSanjak of Alexandretta and Antioch, and the region was renamed Hatay Province. Many Armenians left Kessab for Lebanon or took refuge in the mountains.
The result of the annexation of the Sanjak of Alexandretta proved disastrous for the Armenians of Kessab: Mount Casius was attached to the Turkish side including their farms, properties, laurel tree forests and the grazing lands located in the mountain's bosoms and valleys that once used to belong to the native Armenians. Besides, with this annexation, the Armenians of the town were also deprived from their traditional and historical Barlum Monastery, where the inhabitants used to celebrate the feast of Virgin Mary during August of each year.
As a result of the ongoing Syrian War, in the early hours of 21 March 2014, Kessab and its surrounding villages saw a multi-pronged attack by rebel forces opposed to the Syrian government. It was reported that some of the attackers, advanced directly from Turkish territory.
Some 670 Armenian families of Kessab and its surrounding villages either fled or were evacuated by the local Armenian community leadership to safer areas in neighboring Basit and Latakia.
The peaceful population of a whole village left their homes, their schools and centuries old churches and cultural heritage behind to seek refuge and safety elsewhere with no guarantees of going back to their lands.
Today’s deportation of Kessab Armenians — the third in less than a century — is a most serious challenge to the international community.
Accordingly, we the undersigned appeal to your high esteems with a call to guarantee the preservation of the Cultural Heritage, the Souls, and the Human Dignity of the People of Kessab who had peacefully lived on their lands and flourished culture since centuries. Our call to you is to help them to safely return back to their homeland.
Updates
April 22, 2014
I am currently compiling our collected signatures to send directly to the offices of the UN officials listed here. Please call your local representatives today and demand they push for protection in Kessab. Your continued pressure is the only way to force these leaders to pay attention to our request.
April 21, 2014
We are approaching 500 signatures and need to hit this milestone before we contact these officials. Post the link to your Facebook page right now. Text three people in your contacts and demand they add their names today.
Reached 100 supporters
April 7, 2014
April 4, 2014
We need to hit one hundred signatures right now to gain the attention of the UNESCO office. Post this link on your Facebook wall and text the petition to three people who care about Kessab.
184 Comments
Preserving the Armenian 3000 old culture and defending the Armenian people is the responsibility of all the nations of the world and particularly the UN.
My origin is from KESSAB; it's my Homeland that is attacked, robbed, destroyed and abused by turks. Because, these barbarians would never been able to enter Kessab without the direct assistance of turkish army.
Preserve this peaceful Armenian community which represents the descendants of the generation that survived the Armenian Genocide perpetrated by the ''Young Turks''.We do not wish to see a repetition of that great crime against humanity by terrorists who have the tacit support of the present government in Turkey.
My father was born in Kessab, which makes me a Kessabtsi, too. I had the joy of visiting it once. I finally felt connected to my familial roots. Having a sense of place and time is an important part of experiencing your cultural heritage. Please sign this petition for the sake of the displaced Kessabtsis.
The truth must be said. The Turkish government is responsible by encouraging Jdihadists' entry in Kessab. Turkey's armed forces provided logistic support. Stop Turkey's aggression on Armenians.
The attack on Kessab was a deliberate act by Turkey to prevent the complete defeat of the Islamic extremists in Syria and in the meantime to inflict a blow to Armenians on the eve of the 100th anniversary of the Genocide
man's inhumanity to man! Why can't the USA & the UN do something about this?
Protecting Kessab means doing your job United Nations Human Rights Council. Show the humanity once at least the purpose of your existence
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Preserving the Armenian 3000 old culture and defending the Armenian people is the responsibility of all the nations of the world and particularly the UN.